February 7, 2011
HISTRIONIC
(his tree AHN ik - adjective)
Definition:
overly dramatic; theatrical
Note: Histrionic behavior is referred
to as histrionics. (noun)
Sentences:
As soon as you mentioned the word
‘wrinkle,’ the middle-aged actress would
fall into a state of histrionic tears.
As she yelled and gesticulated wildly,
Shana’s histrionic demand for a raise
angered her supervisor
The children’s histrionics when they
couldn’t find their toys made everyone
uncomfortable.
Antonyms:
restrained; understated; impassive
Memory Clue:
Link HISTRIONIC with HISTORY
“Professor Bradley liked his HISTORY on the HISTRIONIC side.”
February 14, 2011
MILIEU
(mil YOO - noun)
Definition:
environment or surroundings;
setting
(Plural – milieus or milieux)
Sentences:
The farmer on vacation in the busy city
felt out of his milieu.
The New York Stock Exchange is a
milieu of frenzied activity during
trading hours.
As the he waited through the delay of
the blizzard, Ernesto found it easy to
relate his fellow passengers of
different social and cultural milieux.
Synonyms:
habitat; background; domain;
Memory Clue:
Milieu is from French, from Old French, from mi, middle
(from Latin medius) + lieu, place (from Latin locus).
Link MILIEU with MIDDLE - You are in the
MIDDLE of your SURROUNDINGS.
February 22, 2011
BELEAGUER
(be LEE gur – verb)
Definition:
Sentences:
to besiege or surround; beset,
harass (beleaguered – adj.)
In the midst of important negotiations, the
union official asked his staff not to
beleaguer him with insignificant details
The beleaguered president seldom
emerged from his office as he struggled to
deal with the growing scandal.
No one could leave the beleaguered city;
the attacking army had closed off all the
exits.
Memory Clue:
Link BELEAGUER to BIG LEAGUER
“The Little Leaguers BELEAGUERED the BIG LEAGUERS”
February 28, 2011
AMICABLE
(AM ik ah bull- adjective)
Definition:
friendly; showing goodwill;
peaceable
Sentences:
The argument came to an amicable end
when the adversaries finally shook hands.
Known to be amicable animals, dolphins
have even helped injured or exhausted
swimmers to shore.
The amicable employees at the video store
offer excellent service.
When we moved into the neighborhood,
our neighbors greeted us amicably and
brought us freshly baked cookies.
Synonyms:
amiable; affable; cordial; congenial
Antonyms:
disagreeable; hostile; surly; hateful
Memory Clue:
AMICABLE derives from Latin amicus, "friend,"
from amare, "to love."